Vodafone has switched on its 5G Standalone (SA) network, enabling customers in select areas of the UK to trial its many benefits. Eligible customers in London, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol Bath Glasgow and Birmingham with Oppo Find X3/X5 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S21/S22 handsets on Unlimited Max plans will be contacted by SMS from Vodafone to take part in the trial at no extra cost.
The 5G Standalone network is built on an entirely new core network infrastructure offering a raft of improvements over current 4G networks. These include increased reliability and responsiveness leading to improved smartphone battery life; smoother online gaming & video streaming experiences with minimised lag & buffering; wider coverage going further than what is currently available; better indoor coverage due to lower frequency radio waves; greater responsiveness & reliability in busy areas as it can connect significantly more devices simultaneously plus improved security due to advanced end-to-end encryption software.
Network slicing technology also allows Vodafone to create distinct parts of the network customised for different customers depending on their connectivity requirements while future use cases rely heavily upon low latency such as self driving vehicles or remote medical consultations & surgery. It also offers industry sectors like gaming, automotive and healthcare immense opportunities for enhanced services. For example, users in the UK could experience faster response times on autonomous vehicles and seamless access to medical care without being physically present at a hospital.
The potential economic impact of 5G should not be underestimated. According to recent reports, the adoption of 5G could add £150bn worth of economic uplift by 2025! This network upgrade requires coordination between government agencies and regulators across all parts of Europe for its successful roll out but if done correctly it could bring about a huge transformation in terms of productivity gains across sectors such as Agriculture, Manufacturing, Automotive etc.
Vodafone’s launch into 5G SA represents another key milestone being achieved by this UK giant that continues to invest heavily in its future growth prospects and shows that they are ready to continue doing great things with their next generation Network technologies – one that caters for all types of users providing them with reliable connections regardless of where they are located.